Contacts:

Matt Dempsey Matt_Dempsey@epw.senate.gov (202) 224-9797

David Lungren David_Lungren@epw.senate.gov (202) 224-5642

INHOFE: REPUBLICANS STAND READY TO BLOCK EPA'S JOB-KILLING REGULATIONS

Washington, D.C.-Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, issued the following statement today on legislation to delay EPA's back-door cap-and-trade regulations for two years:

"When it comes to the demise of the two-year delay of EPA greenhouse gas regulations, the facts are these:

"We had an opportunity to put an end to EPA's job-killing cap-and-trade regulations when we voted on the Murkowski disapproval resolution-requiring 51 votes for passage-earlier this year.  My friend's promise, however, to push for a two-year delay as an alternative contributed significantly to the resolution's defeat-a resolution, I would note, that he voted for.

"The senator who sponsored the two-year delay also had multiple opportunities to attach his legislation to various vehicles moving in the Senate over the last several months-which would have required 60 votes to pass.  He chose not to do so.  Moreover, when Republicans tried to move the 2-year delay, Democrats objected.  

"On top of this, the sponsor waited until the last minute to attempt to suspend the rules-an action that would have required 67 votes for passage-by attaching his amendment to a massive, 2,000-page omnibus spending bill.

"In sum: the bar was raised each and every time, making it more difficult to pass the two-year delay.  This, then, is how the bill failed to move.

"Now, as we have all along, Republicans look forward to working in bipartisan fashion to end EPA's job-killing regulations and restore balance and certainty to the regulatory process."

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